Rating: 
Summary: good "old fashioned" movie
Review: great drama. The disk is "1.85" widescreen, not the normal 2.35.
Rating: 
Summary: Smarmy extreme - NOT like an old movie
Review: "The Majestic is an old-fashioned throwback replete with a 1950s B-script and halcyon values like patriotism, true love, and clean fun."So says the official review, but this is NOT true. Old movies were G rated, yes, but they were NOT full of smarm, nothing but heartfelt moment after heartfelt moment after heartfelt moment, tears after more tears after more tears, which is what this film is. Martin Ladau cries for about the first 20 minutes of his onscreen time. It's absurd. THIS is the man from North by Northwest? Hard to believe. Innocence does not = Hallmark card and that's what this film is. In IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE Jimmy Stewart yells and screams at his wife and kids, he smashes his architectural models to pieces, and he grabs his uncle by the collar and says, "One of us is going to prison and it's not going to be me!" THEN he attempts suicide. Think about it. There are a lot of good things about the screenplay, but there are enough miscalculations that, when added to Jim Carry's terribly flat performance, the film falls down hard. The skill of old movies was to put forward all the ugly emotions and yet retain innocence, to go through the gamut of life like Dante through hell and come out smiling at the end. This film never does that, though it tries to do the redemption thing at the end with its Unamerican Activities scene, a la Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, it simply does not succeed because by the time Jim Carry gives his speech, we've had so much smarm and good feeling and true love that the speech seems redundant. He has nothing really to be redeemed from. All the emotions that speech tries to bring out of us have already been brought out or the movie has tried to bring them out, time and time again, for nearly every second of the film. What they should have done was to have Jim Carry react negatively and violently, once he is found out, at the comparison of himself to the person for whom he was mistaken, Luke. If he threw a fit, "All right I'm NOT Luke so deal with it!" And I mean a real fit that brought forth his character's dark nature and shocked and hurt people, the whole town, and made them turn away from him, THEN his speech in Congress would have meant something. But you can't have redemption without a fall, and his little namby pampy speech in the graveyard did NOT do it. The ONLY reason to watch this film is to see 5 minutes of BRUCE CAMPBELL swashbuckling. Oh how I long for an Evil Dead 4.
Rating: 
Summary: A good 2-hour movie stretched out to 2.5 hours
Review: There are a lot of things to like about "The Majestic." Nice scenery, decent acting, a good "message" ... and a hilarious cameo by Bruce Campbell in "Sand Pirates of the Sahara," the overwrought "Egyptian curse" movie scripted by Carrey's character, Peter Appleton. Unfortunately, there are some not-so-wonderful aspects to the movie, too. At 2.5 hours it's WAY too long. There are too many characters -- e.g. the resentful crippled veteran -- unnecessary scenes, and a heavy-handedness that made me cringe at times. Hollywood's self-preening take on the 1950s Congressional hearings is just a bit too much! Also, I know I'm being nit-picky, but in most scenes, Martin Landau looks like he's wearing lipstick.... and when Luke and Adele have their first dance at the big homecoming bash, the band plays "Stranger on the Shore," a song written a decade after the period the movie is set in. Overall, a decent movie (in all senses of the word) but not the Capra-esque classic it aims to be. The consensus rating of 3.5 stars is about right.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie Enhanced by an Accurate Portrayal of a Small Town
Review: What must it have been like to have been in a position of power and responsibility in The United States, when a single person and a cadre of political thugs were able to investigate anyone they pleased in the name of seeking out supposed Communist spies? By contrast, small town America still lived in relative innocence, believing their government could do no wrong, believing in the values that we have always associated with The United States. This dichotomy of situations is well-contrasted and exploited in one of Jim Carrey's best movies. Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) is a Hollywood writer accused of being a member of the Communist party, just as his career seems ready to take off. Peter goes for a long drive after having too much to drink, at the end of a long day. His drive ends with his car over an embankment. Peter wakes up to discover that he no longer remembers who he is, and is now in the town of Lawson, California. The setting is critical to understanding this movie. Small-town America is as different from large-city America as the moon is compared to the Earth. Every small town has its claim to fame. In Lawson's case, it was The Majestic Theater before World War II. However, the war killed or maimed most of the town's young men, and took the energy of the town with it. Peter bears a strong resemblance to Lucas Trimble, a town hero, and son of Harry Trimble (Martin Landau), the owner of The Majestic, and soon the town takes Peter for Lucas, convincing Peter in the process. Unfortunately, the Committee on Un-American Activities eventually catches up with Peter just as he remembers who he was. Peter goes off to face the music with Hal Holbrook as Congressman Doyle. This success of this movie hinges on the ability to understand small towns, and the feeling those towns have for their landmarks and their history. The loss of the boys during the war was symbolized by the deterioration of The Majestic, which further symbolized the despair and loss of the town of Lawson. The return of Luke Trimble restored hope, symbolized by the repair of The Majestic. We find that Peter Appleton is all too mercenary, and has few personal values. However, he finds values in Lawson, and his redemption ultimately becomes redemption for Lawson. The two are inextricably intertwined. It's easy to criticize this movie for being too larger than life. Obviously there were exaggerations. However, the feel of small-town America is correct. Was the movie predictable, as others have suggested? I thought that the movie's outcome was one of several. Ultimately, this movie is family friendly and is a favorite among our small-town family. Five stars because I liked it after having seen it twice.
Rating:
Summary: a deep-down reaffirming film; Carrey is simply wonderful
Review: This box-office sleeper seemed somewhat interesting, so I sat down to watch. It turned out to be a rare treat. The story is told with gentle strokes, giving enough time for the important characters to develop. Lesser characters are drawn in such a way that communicates volumes within their limited screen time.
There's even a quiet sub-plot that is just a love poem to the movies - the Majestic theater is at once a crown jewel (visually) and a hometown niche that's as comfortable as an old chair, with the townsfolk waiting at once starry-eyed and homesick for opening night. Jim Carrey gives a suprisingly nuanced performance, acheiving depths as an actor that I had not seen from him before. I agree with another reviewer who said this should have been an oscar-contender performance, had anyone been paying attention. Judging by his comedic films, you'd expect Carrey to be a one-trick pony, but his performance here brings across the subtleties and variations in his conflicted character with unexpected grace and seeming ease. Who knew Jim Carrey had this in him? As for the McCarthyism plot, some reviewers here have complained that the courtroom scenes at the end were just over-the-top, or that the film's plot takes an ill-advised turn away from the more interesting part of the movie. I think these folks are missing the point. The core of the film is not the McCarthy era specifically -- it could have been any one of a number of controversies or conflicts that drove the plot. What is important here, and what the film excels in focusing on, are broader questions: things like honor, duty, integrity, love, community, dignity and self-respect. These are the themes that make Capra "Capra-esque" -- not "what-if" experiences or earnest young men with unruly forelocks waving the Constitution about. These are the things that drive Peter Appleton's transformation, these are the themes that Carrey's performance brings out so well, and these are the values that are at the film's heart.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare, Wholesome Film
Review: Jim Carrey continues to amaze as his acting skills develop. The film was additionally informative...my teenage daughter had only heard of McCarthyism through history textbooks...now she knows first-hand of the witch hunts of the 50's. A truly poignant movie.
Rating:
Summary: A very good movie, beginning to end
Review: When I first saw this movie while flipping through the channels on cable I didn't think I would like it, but I ended up watching it till the end and liked it a lot. To me, it shows the meaning of what one person can do to affect the lives of others. Peter Appleton loses his memory in a car accident and everyone thinks he is a war hero who's been missing for several years. People in the town who are sad about World War 2 losses get hope again. But Pete gets his memory back, will he stay in the town or not? Watch it and see, you'll love the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Decent and heartwarming
Review: This is a well-done, well-intentioned feel-good movie that I wouldn't mind seeing more of. It shows that basic human decency can prevail, as long as not done in a hokey way by
Hollywood. While not in Forrest Gump territory in it's imagination, it's B-team Gump just waiting for it's shot in the big leagues. Jim Carrey shows his incredible versatility once again by playing possibly his most likeable character. Only the character doesn't start out so likeable. He plays a very shallow movie writer in the 1940's who isn't a Communist, but is willing to smear other people's lives in order to play Hollywood's game in those days and keep his job. That is, before he gets in one of those neat Hollywood plots where he gets amnesia, and wakes up in a town that thinks he's someone else. Since just about everyone in the town says he's such a swell guy, well, he figures he must be, so he becomes one. He single-handedly revives a town decimated by losing a lot of it's citizens in World War II. He brings joy to the man who thinks his son has returned. And he even gets a shot at the original guy's girl. All of this would make it standard if it weren't for the final act of this fairly long, but very interesting movie. Inevitably, his memory starts coming back, coincidently at the same time the government and Hollywood track him down to return to play the Commie game. Will he play the game and get a cushy job for life, or will he stand up for truth, justice, and the Real American way, go back to the town, and get the girl? I bet you can get it right with one guess, but that's OK. It's that kind of movie.
Rating:
Summary: Smaltz falls flat
Review: An annoying nagging doubt falls over the viewer for what is an inconsistent attempt to bridge feel good glory days Hollywood with a current edge. A comic book feel in lighting and script does a good cast no good. Give Jim Carrey credit for at least attempting to carry it off. He lacks the chops to pull off the still love em after this mess panache that a stronger lead would merit ( see Harrison Ford in 6 days /7 nights) Landau is great in a flawed script that cannot decide between whimsical and thoughtful. Less herocially inclined set and lighting would have given scripted bromides a chance, but the back lite perfect close ups lost any dramatic edge and script problems glare brighter. Entire sub plot and resolution collaspe given heavy handed treatment. When will we be spared the court room style resolution in the last ten minutes? Not only old ground , but use of a prop that I found offensive in context since only provided to lend emotional heft to banalities of the lines provided. Heros good, mean Senators bad BUT, not without redemming features that warrant the second star. Landau and supporting cast strong , pretty if very back lot 1940's , but not worth a re-view . Invest your dollars and time elsewhere
Rating: 
Summary: The Majestic...
Review: There is no way director Frank Darabont could have topped THE GREEN MILE and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Therefore, THE MAJESTIC all ready had a strike against it on those terms. Good to see Jim Carrey try on some serious roles and proves once again he is capable of doing straight drama. The film failed at the box office, hopefully it won't discourage him from doing more. Perhaps Carrey should take on supporting roles in dramas. THE MAJESTIC has it's heart in the right places with a great cast,decent script and good direction. There is an underlining theme of patriotism,hope, and standing up for on'es rights, but the film seems predictable and forced. It is a throwback to a Capra-esque type story telling landscape, but something is missing. There is no element of surprise, awe, or wonder and the mistaken identity plot in the film doesn't hold water. Somehow we know what is going to happen in this movie every step of the way yet we still stop and watch hoping for a surprise, and nothing happens. What saves the film is a good cast with the reliable David Ogden Stiers (tv's MASH),Martin Landau (ED WOOD), James Whitmore, and other veteran character actors playing their usual typecast selves : i.e. Bob Balaban (2010, SEINFELD),Hal Holbrook (ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN), Ron Rifkin (tv's ALIAS),and Allen Garfield (THE CANDIDATE).
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